才 (cái) — (adverb, before quantity) only, merely; (adverb, after time) just now, only a moment ago; (adverb, in conditional patterns) only then, not until
Definition
As an adverb, 才 means 'only just / not until' (after a time: 刚才 vs 才 = a moment ago vs only a moment ago, highlighting lateness) or 'only' before a quantity. Contrast 刚才 (noun, 'a moment ago') and 刚刚 ('just now').
adverb
(adverb, before quantity) onlymerely(adverb, after time) just nowonly a moment ago(adverb, in conditional patterns) only thennot until
Easily confused
Examples
- 才，。Wǒ cái chī le liǎng wǎn fàn, hái è.I only ate two bowls of rice, still hungry.
- 才，。Tā cái dào jiào shì, jiù shàng kè le.He just arrived at the classroom, and class started.
- ，。Zhǐ yǒu nǔ lì xué xí, cái néng tōng guò kǎo shì.Only by studying hard can you pass the exam.
Grammar
Appears in
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